Lawmaker chastises military for not keeping database of medal recipients

The military has come under sharp criticism at a House hearing for failing to create a searchable database of medal recipients.

A database would be one way to identify and prosecute those falsely claiming to have received the honors.

Witnesses from the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a nongovernment military awards database joined Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz in criticizing the Pentagon.

Anyone making false claims of receiving military honors could be prosecuted under a 2006 law, the Stolen Valor Act. Conviction could bring imprisonment for up to six months, or up to a year for false claims of receiving the Medal of Honor.